Opinions of General Office of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of New Foreign Trade Forms and Models

General Office of the State Council about

Opinions on accelerating the development of new foreign trade formats and new models

Guo Ban Fa [2021] No.24

People’s governments of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, ministries and commissions and institutions directly under the State Council:

The new format and new mode are the effective force of China’s foreign trade development and an important trend of international trade development. Accelerating the development of new foreign trade formats and new models is conducive to promoting the high-quality development of trade, cultivating new advantages in participating in international economic cooperation and competition, and playing an important role in building a new development pattern for services. In order to thoroughly implement the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and promote the healthy, sustainable and innovative development of new foreign trade formats and new models, with the consent of the State Council, we hereby put forward the following opinions:

I. General requirements

(1) Guiding ideology.Guided by Socialism with Chinese characteristics Thought of the Supreme Leader in the New Era, we will fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Plenary Sessions of the 19th National Congress, adhere to the general tone of striving for progress while maintaining stability, base ourselves on the new development stage, implement the new development concept, build a new development pattern, deepen the "streamline administration, delegate power, strengthen regulation and improve services" reform in foreign trade with the supply-side structural reform as the main line, and promote institutional innovation, management innovation, service innovation, format innovation and model innovation in foreign trade.

(2) Basic principles.

Insist on encouraging innovation. Give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, better play the role of the government, and further release the vitality of market players. We will try first, encourage the extensive use of new technologies and tools in the field of foreign trade, promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional formats, refine the division of trade, enhance the level of specialization, promote the integration and innovation of formats, and constantly explore new foreign trade formats and models.

Adhere to tolerance and prudence. Make overall plans for development and safety, and insist on standardization in development and development in standardization. Establish and improve a policy system that adapts to the development of new foreign trade formats and new models. Improve standards and systems in information data, credit system and intellectual property protection. Scientifically and reasonably define the platform responsibility. Strengthen supervision after the event, continuously optimize the business environment and promote fair competition.

Adhere to open cooperation. Coordinate the domestic and international markets and resources, adhere to the strategy of mutual benefit and win-win, and promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment. Strengthen cooperation and linkage among departments, localities, industries and enterprises, and improve the efficiency of government management and service. Actively explore the establishment of international rules to adapt to and lead the development of new foreign trade formats and new models, and promote high-level opening up.

(3) development goals.By 2025, the institutional mechanism and policy system for the development of new foreign trade formats and new models will be more perfect, the business environment will be more optimized, and a number of leading enterprises and industrial clusters with international competitiveness will be formed, and the level of industrial value chain will be further improved, which will further enhance the driving role of foreign trade and national economy. By 2035, the development level of new foreign trade formats and new models will be in the forefront of innovative countries, the laws and regulations system will be more perfect, and the degree of trade liberalization and facilitation will reach the advanced level in the world, providing strong momentum for the high-quality development of trade and strong support for the basic realization of socialist modernization.

Second, actively support the use of new technologies and tools to empower foreign trade development.

(four) to promote the application of digital intelligence technology.Use digital technology and digital tools to promote the optimization and upgrading of all links in the whole process of foreign trade. Give play to the "long tail effect", integrate fragmented orders and broaden the channels for obtaining orders. Vigorously develop digital exhibitions, social e-commerce, product crowdfunding, big data marketing, etc., and establish a marketing system with online and offline integration and domestic and overseas linkage. Integrate data of all links in foreign trade supply chain, and strengthen resource docking and information sharing. By 2025, the level of digitalization and intelligence of foreign trade enterprises will be significantly improved.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and all relevant units are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(5) Improve cross-border e-commerce development support policies.Apply the supervision mode of cross-border e-commerce enterprise-to-enterprise (B2B) direct export and cross-border e-commerce export overseas warehouse throughout the country, and improve the supporting policies. Facilitate cross-border e-commerce import and export return management. Optimize the list of cross-border e-commerce retail imports. Steadily carry out the pilot work of cross-border e-commerce retail import drugs. Guide enterprises to make good use of cross-border e-commerce retail export value-added tax, consumption tax exemption policies and income tax verification and collection methods. Study and formulate guidelines for intellectual property protection of cross-border e-commerce and guide cross-border e-commerce platforms to prevent intellectual property risks. By 2025, the cross-border e-commerce policy system will be further improved, the development environment will be further optimized, and the development level will be further improved.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, National Medical Products Administration and China National Intellectual Property Administration are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(six) solidly promote the construction of cross-border electronic commerce comprehensive experimental zone.Expand the pilot scope of cross-border electronic commerce Comprehensive Experimental Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Comprehensive Experimental Zone). Actively carry out pilot projects, further improve the "two platforms" of cross-border e-commerce online integrated services and offline industrial parks, and the "six systems" of supervision and services such as information sharing, financial services, intelligent logistics, e-commerce integrity, statistical monitoring and risk prevention and control, and explore more good experiences and good practices. Encourage cross-border e-commerce platforms, operators, supporting service providers and other entities to become bigger and stronger, and accelerate the cultivation of independent brands. Establish an assessment and withdrawal mechanism for the comprehensive test area, and organize the assessment and evaluation in 2021. By 2025, the construction of the comprehensive test area has achieved remarkable results, and a number of cross-border e-commerce offline industrial parks with concentrated elements, diverse subjects and professional services have been built, forming a unique development pattern and becoming an innovative cluster leading the development of cross-border e-commerce.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the Central Network Information Office, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the People’s Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Market Supervision, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the State Post Bureau and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange are responsible for the division of responsibilities.)

(seven) to cultivate a number of outstanding overseas warehouse enterprises.Encourage traditional foreign trade enterprises, cross-border e-commerce and logistics enterprises to participate in the construction of overseas warehouses, improve the digitalization and intelligence level of overseas warehouses, promote small and medium-sized enterprises to borrow ships to go to sea, and drive domestic brands and dual-innovation products to expand the international market space. Support the comprehensive use of investment and financing methods such as BOT and structured financing to invest in overseas warehouse construction. Give full play to the role of foreign embassies and consulates and business organizations, provide early guidance services for overseas warehouse enterprises, and help resolve disputes. By 2025, we will strive to cultivate about 100 outstanding overseas warehouse enterprises with outstanding performance in information construction, intelligent development, diversified services and localized operation.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission and China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(8) Improve the overseas warehouse network covering the whole world.Support enterprises to speed up the layout of overseas warehouses in key markets, improve the global service network, and establish transportation and sales channels for China brands. Encourage overseas warehouse enterprises to connect with online comprehensive service platforms in the comprehensive test area and domestic and foreign e-commerce platforms to match supply and demand information. Optimize policies and measures such as express transportation, support overseas warehouse enterprises to establish and improve logistics systems, extend services to the upstream and downstream of the supply chain, and explore the construction of overseas logistics smart platforms. Promote the construction of overseas warehouse standards. By 2025, relying on overseas warehouses to establish a new foreign trade logistics network with global coverage and coordinated development, and launch a number of internationally influential national and industry standards.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the General Administration of Market Supervision and the State Post Bureau are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

Third, continue to promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional foreign trade

(nine) to enhance the digital level of traditional foreign trade.Support traditional foreign trade enterprises to use advanced technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, strengthen research and development design, and carry out intelligent, personalized and customized production. Encourage enterprises to explore the construction of big data laboratories for new foreign trade formats. Guide the use of digital means to enhance the value of traditional brands. Encourage the construction of incubation institutions and innovation centers, and support the entrepreneurial innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises. By 2025, a foreign trade industrial chain supply chain system driven by new formats, supported by big data, networked sharing and intelligent cooperation will be formed.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and all relevant units are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

(ten) to optimize the policy framework of market procurement trade mode.Improve the dynamic adjustment mechanism of market procurement trade mode pilot, set up comprehensive evaluation indicators, and give better play to the demonstration and leading role of pilot areas. Support each pilot area to explore and innovate according to local conditions, attract more domestic trade subjects to carry out foreign trade, guide market subjects to improve quality, technology, service and brand, enhance product competitiveness, and amplify the agglomeration and driving effect on surrounding industries. By 2025, we will strive to cultivate about 10 integrated domestic and foreign trade markets with exports exceeding 100 billion yuan and build a number of well-known brands.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Market Supervision and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

(eleven) to improve the level of market procurement and trade facilitation.Further optimize the comprehensive management system of market procurement and trade, and realize traceability, risk control and accountability. We will continue to implement pilot policies such as simplified customs declaration and exemption of value-added tax for goods exported by market procurement trade, and optimize the customs clearance process. Expand the pilot scope of market procurement trade prepackaged foods export. Guide banks to provide more convenient financial services for market procurement trade income filed in the comprehensive management system of market procurement trade and traceable to the authenticity of transactions.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the People’s Bank of China, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Market Supervision, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

Four, further promote the development of foreign trade services to professional segmentation.

(twelve) to further support the healthy development of foreign trade comprehensive service enterprises.Implement the centralized tax refund filing work and improve work efficiency. For the production enterprises that have filed the tax refund on behalf of the agency but have not yet made the on-site inspection of the first tax refund (exemption), the efficiency of the on-site inspection will be further improved after receiving the declaration information of the first tax refund business entrusted by the agency. Guide foreign trade comprehensive service enterprises (hereinafter referred to as comprehensive service enterprises) to standardize internal risk management and improve the risk management and control level of centralized agency tax refund. Further implement and improve the "double penalty" mechanism of the customs. Under the condition that the comprehensive service enterprise strictly fulfills its reasonable review obligation and there is no intentional or gross negligence, the comprehensive service enterprise and its customers will bear corresponding responsibilities according to the circumstances. By 2025, the policy environment to adapt to the development of comprehensive service enterprises will be further optimized.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

(thirteen) to improve the development level of bonded maintenance business.Further support enterprises in the comprehensive bonded area to carry out maintenance business, dynamically adjust the catalogue of maintenance products, and study the inclusion of medical devices and other products in the catalogue. Support enterprises in the Pilot Free Trade Zone to carry out bonded maintenance business with "two ends in the outside" according to the catalogue of maintenance products in the comprehensive bonded zone. The provincial people’s government where the Pilot Free Trade Zone is located will comprehensively evaluate the maintenance projects and independently support them, and assume the main responsibility for the supervision and other matters of the supported projects. Explore and support qualified enterprises outside the comprehensive bonded zone to carry out bonded maintenance of self-produced export products with high technology content, high added value and meeting environmental protection requirements, promote it steadily by pilot, strengthen evaluation, and study and formulate management measures and maintenance product lists. By 2025, the policy system of bonded maintenance business will be gradually improved.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the General Administration of Customs and the State Administration of Taxation are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

(14) Steadily promote the development of offshore trade.Encourage banks to explore and optimize business authenticity audit methods, improve audit efficiency based on customer credit classification and business model according to the principle of exhibition industry, provide high-quality financial services for enterprises to carry out true and compliant offshore trade business, and improve the level of trade settlement facilitation. Further strengthen the innovation of offshore trade business in the Pilot Free Trade Zone, and support qualified cities and regions with strong competitiveness and management capabilities to develop offshore trade.(The Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

(fifteen) support the development of foreign trade segmentation service platform.Support sharing and innovation in foreign trade segments such as marketing, payment, delivery, logistics and quality control. Encourage foreign trade segmentation service platforms to deepen vertical markets in various regions and industries and take the road of "specialization and innovation". Encourage foreign trade enterprises to build their own independent stations, and support professional station building platforms to optimize and improve service capabilities. Explore the application of blockchain technology in the field of trade segmentation. By 2025, a number of foreign trade segmentation service platform enterprises with strong international influence will be formed.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and all relevant units are responsible according to the division of responsibilities)

V. Optimizing the policy guarantee system

(sixteen) innovative supervision methods.According to the needs of the development of foreign trade formats, we should study and improve relevant laws and regulations in a timely manner and scientifically set up an "observation period" and a "transition period". Introduce the "sandbox supervision" mode to provide a safe space for business innovation. Promote data docking among departments such as commerce, customs, taxation, market supervision and postal services, and strengthen supervision over tax evasion, counterfeiting and false transactions while optimizing services. Improve the statistical system of new foreign trade formats and new models.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Market Supervision, the National Bureau of Statistics and the State Post Bureau are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

(seventeen) the implementation of fiscal and taxation policies.Give full play to the role of special funds for foreign trade and economic development and guiding funds for the innovation and development of service trade, and guide social capital to support the development of new foreign trade formats and new models by means of funds. Actively explore and implement tax collection and service measures to promote the development of new foreign trade formats and new models, and optimize the relevant tax environment. Enterprises that support new foreign trade formats and new models apply paperless methods to declare tax rebates. Enterprises with new foreign trade formats and new modes that have been identified as high-tech enterprises can enjoy preferential income tax policies for high-tech enterprises according to regulations.(The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration of Taxation are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

(eighteen) increase financial support.Deepen the cooperation between government, banks and enterprises, actively promote the "credit-easy loan" model, encourage financial institutions, non-bank payment institutions, credit reporting institutions and foreign trade service platforms to strengthen cooperation, and provide convenient financial services for enterprises with new foreign trade formats and new models with real trading background. Encourage qualified enterprises with new foreign trade formats and new modes to raise funds through listing and issuing bonds. Accelerate the construction of a trade and financial blockchain platform. We will increase the support of export credit insurance for new foreign trade formats and new models such as overseas warehouses, and actively play the role of risk protection and financing promotion.(The National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Bank of China, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the CSRC, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the Export-Import Bank and China Export Credit Insurance Corporation are responsible for the division of responsibilities.)

(nineteen) convenient trade payment and settlement management.We will deepen the pilot project of facilitating foreign exchange receipts and payments, and support more qualified banks and payment institutions to provide settlement services for enterprises with new foreign trade formats and new models in accordance with laws and regulations. Encourage research and development of safe and convenient cross-border payment products, and support non-bank payment institutions to "go global". Encourage foreign-funded institutions to participate in the development and competition of the payment service market in China.(The People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

Sixth, create a good environment

(twenty) to maintain a good foreign trade order.Strengthen anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition regulations, focus on preventing and stopping monopoly and unfair competition in new foreign trade formats, protect fair competition and prevent disorderly expansion of capital. Explore the establishment of a credit evaluation system for enterprises with new foreign trade formats and new models, and encourage the establishment of an important product traceability system. Support the formulation of national, industrial and local standards in the field of new foreign trade formats, and encourage industry associations to formulate relevant group standards.(The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs and the General Administration of Market Supervision are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

(twenty-one) to promote the construction of new foreign trade infrastructure.Support the construction of online comprehensive service platform and digital public service platform in the field of foreign trade. Encourage telecom enterprises to provide dedicated channels for Internet data for foreign trade enterprises to carry out digital marketing. Improve the layout of the international mail exchange bureau (exchange station) and the international express processing center. Open a special train between China and Europe to meet the needs of new foreign trade formats and new modes to develop transportation.(The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Post Bureau and China National Railway Group Co., Ltd. are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

(twenty-two) to strengthen the construction of industry organizations and professional personnel training.Promote the establishment of relevant industry organizations in the field of new foreign trade formats according to law, and introduce industry service norms and self-discipline conventions. Encourage ordinary colleges and vocational colleges to set up related majors. Guide ordinary universities, vocational colleges and enterprises to cooperate, and cultivate management talents and high-quality technical and technical talents that meet the needs of the development of new foreign trade formats and new models.(The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Civil Affairs are responsible for the division of responsibilities)

(23) Deepen international exchanges and cooperation.Actively participate in multilateral and bilateral negotiations such as the WTO and the Universal Postal Union, and promote the formation of international standards on electronic signatures, electronic contracts and electronic documents. Strengthen international cooperation in the fields of intellectual property protection and transnational logistics, and participate in the formulation of international rules and standards for new foreign trade formats and new models. Strengthen intergovernmental cooperation with relevant countries in related fields and promote two-way opening up. Vigorously develop silk road e-commerce and strengthen the "Belt and Road" economic and trade cooperation. Promote the connection between China’s new foreign trade format and new mode and foreign circulation industry. Encourage all localities, pilot units and enterprises to carry out international exchanges and cooperation.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and all local people’s governments and relevant units are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

Seven, do a good job in organizing the implementation

(twenty-four) to strengthen organizational leadership.Give full play to the role of the State Council in promoting the inter-ministerial joint conference system of high-quality trade development, strengthen departmental linkage and coordination between the central and local governments, and coordinate and solve major problems. All regions and relevant departments should implement it in accordance with the division of responsibilities, cooperate closely, introduce relevant measures in a timely manner, and continue to explore and practice boldly. The Ministry of Commerce should strengthen work guidance with relevant departments to ensure that all measures are effective.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and all local people’s governments and relevant units are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

(twenty-five) do a good job in publicity and promotion.Constantly sum up and promote good experiences and good practices. Strengthen the guidance of public opinion and announce the development effect of new foreign trade formats and new models. Actively create a good atmosphere of encouraging innovation, full of vitality, fair competition, standardization and order, and promote the healthy, sustainable and innovative development of new foreign trade formats and new models.(The Ministry of Commerce takes the lead, and all local people’s governments and relevant units are responsible according to the division of responsibilities.)

the General Office of the State Council

July 2, 2021

(This piece is publicly released)